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Budget Cuts Force Cuts At Corps Campgrounds

Federal budget reductions are being blamed for shortened seasons at some U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas, including some in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma.

The Corps’ Tulsa district office announced last week it was delaying the official season opening of Corps-operated recreation areas along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System until at least May 1.

Boat ramps at the facilities will remain open where feasible.

Impacted areas include the Robert S. Kerr Reservoir southwest of Sallisaw, where delayed openings will be imposed at Applegate Cove, Short Mountain Cove, Cowlington Point and the dam-site day use area.

Access areas will remain open only for boat launching at Tamaha Landing, Keota Landing and Otter Creek access areas.

At Webbers Falls west of Sallisaw, the Corps will delay openings at Brewers Bend and Spaniard Creek. The Spaniard Creek day use area and Oklahoma 10 Landing will be open for boat launching only.

Services such as mowing, cleaning, and restroom availability may not be provided.

In Arkansas, the Little Rock District of the Corps reports no changes to the shortened seasons put in place last year.

Area sites impacted include Ozark, where campsites were closed at Citadel Bluff and River Ridge, and where the day use area at Reed Mountain was closed. The Corps ordered the boat ramps closed at Citadel Bluff and Reed Mountain. The Corps also ordered the River Ridge ramp closed, but Driver said in some communities, local governments leased the sites from the Corps to leave them open and operational.

Altogether, the Little Rock office proposed changing recreation operations at 29 parks, including closing 13 campgrounds, four partial campgrounds, four day use areas, one partial day use area, and 10 boat ramps. Officials also shortened the recreation season at many additional parks.

Other likely park adjustments made last year and likely to continue this year, include reducing the frequency of trash pick-up, cleaning and mowing, as well as reduced maintenance response time and fewer temporary park rangers, law enforcement agreements and contract park attendants.

“The delayed opening is due to a fiscal year 2013 budget reduction for the navigation system,” a news release from the Tulsa district office said.

“Once the final budget is received, officials will determine whether to open the areas or suspend operation for the remainder of the recreation season,” the release states. Some parks along the system may have been accessible throughout the winter with limited services, but these park openings will also be delayed.

The release also pointed out other Corps of Engineers sites not located on the Arkansas River were not impacted. It suggested the public could find alternative camping and boating sites at other Corps recreation areas at nearby lakes.

“Eufaula Lake is the closest alternative for campgrounds at R.S. Kerr, Tenkiller Lake is the closest alternative to Webbers Falls, and Fort Gibson is the closest alternative for Chouteau and Newt Graham,” the release states.

The Little Rock district office reported no delays in operation at Corps-operated Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas.